Rattus rattus
Black Rat at Undefined Area
Identify this sighting
| Rattus rattus | DonFletcher | 27 Mar 2024 | |
| Rattus rattus | CarbonAI | 26 Mar 2024 | |
| Unverified | Ct1000 | 26 Mar 2024 |
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User's notes
I believe I have previously photographed this individual with a full tail... It was nesting in hollow log nest was made of a pile of grass... I have been assuming it's a brown rat but had limited angles to emphasise the distinguishing features. These images were taken with the animal up a gum tree of some kind. In a Grove of various native trees.
2 comments
27 Mar 2024
Only 3 rattus in area.
Short tail is indicative of R. fuscipes (bush rat) BUT tail may be missing a piece or not visible in images; Also Bush Rat hardly ever climbs and no longer occurs in urban area.
R norvegicus (Sewer Rat) is locally rare and doesn't climb much.
Long ears look like R.rattus (Black/Roof Rat) which climbs trees readily to forage for bird nests, fruit etc. SO R.rattus.
Short tail is indicative of R. fuscipes (bush rat) BUT tail may be missing a piece or not visible in images; Also Bush Rat hardly ever climbs and no longer occurs in urban area.
R norvegicus (Sewer Rat) is locally rare and doesn't climb much.
Long ears look like R.rattus (Black/Roof Rat) which climbs trees readily to forage for bird nests, fruit etc. SO R.rattus.
27 Mar 2024
Ah thanks you for the information Don! I wasn't aware bushrats rarely climb trees and was unsure if there were any extant populations in Canberra. It's definitely missing a section of tail. I'd previously decided it was a black or brown rat not a bush rat because the tail was significantly longer than the body. It's very helpful to know that we only get r.rattus here too.
Location information
- Coordinates 149.103375-35.326100
- Maps Red Hill Nature Reserve
- Places Deakin, ACT
Sighting information
- 1 Abundance
- 26 Mar 2024 08:18 AM Recorded on
- Ct1000 Recorded by
- Alive / healthy Animal health
Collections
Species information
- Rattus rattus Scientific name
- Black Rat Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Exotic
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 1019.83m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Record quality
Quality score
5 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Description
- Additional attributes
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location